Make full backup and then differential

[Odiez]

Is is possible to make a full backup, keep it for 5 days, then aut delete and make new one, then for 5 days make a differential and and keep only one, so when new full backup is done, then differential must start from there, I try, but can not get the full backup to work.

[Froggie]

DIFFERENTIALs and INCREMENTALs are "children" images of a PARENT.  A DIFFERENTIAL's parent is a full... it cannot exist without its FULL PARENT.

INCREMENTALSs may be parented by another INCREMENTAL, a DIFFERENTAIL or a FULL.  Because of parental requirements, an INC parented by another INC requires that INC and itss parent (which may be a INC, DIFF or FULL).  All parents in a given image chain must be present for an image to be restored.

As you can see, a DIFF requires its parent FULL to be functional.  An INC requires it's parent DIFF (which requires its parent FULL) to be functional and present.  An INC requires its parent INC (which requires its parent INC, DIFF or FULL) to be present and functional.

I don't quite understand what you mean when you say you can't get the FULL backup to work... FULLs have no parents so they should always work.  Maybe you can tell us exactly what you did.

[Odiez]

Here’s what I need:

A full backup should be created every 5 days. When a new full backup is made, the previous full backup should be automatically deleted.
Differential backups should be created for the next 4 days, using the latest full backup as their parent. Once a new full backup is created, differentials should reset and start using the new full backup as their parent.
The issue I’m facing is that I can’t get the full backup to automatically delete the previous one and start a new cycle correctly. Could you guide me on how to configure this properly?

[Froggie]

(see below: editing errors here)

[Froggie]

Well, from your description it's hard to tell whether you really want what you describe every 5-days (doesn't  make much sense to me  ), or a 5-day cycle that occurs weekly (no weekends involved).  I'll describe the every-5-day weekly scenario and if you really want every 5-days we'll go over that as well 

First of all, what you describe can only be done via scheduling and retention mgmt, not manually (if you want automatic deletions, etc.)... so off we go.

So as not to disturb what you already have (or don't have), open HASLEO and select "Backup" then "System Backup" (this will only select partitons required to reBOOT to Windows).  At the next window, change the TaskName field to an easily recognized task name.  Then select the "Backup schedules" LINK below that field.

In the opened "Backup Schedules" window, in the "Image Retention Policy" area, check FULL and set it's keep value to "1" and "Backup(s)."

In that same window, above the retention settings, you need to <click> on the "Add backup schedule" LINK.  In the window provided, set your "Schedule type:" to Weekly , then set your "Backup mode:" to Full.  Above this setting you'll select "Monday" if you want your new FULLs at the beginning of the week, then set the "Run once at:" time to the time of day you want the full image made (I used 9am).  Also Check the "Run missed schedule at the next System startup"... this will insure that if your System's down on Monday, the next new Full will get created as soon as its back up.  <click> OK.  At this point your Full image is set up.

Repeat the above "Add backup schedule" process with the "Schedule type:" set to Weekly and the "Backup mode:" to Differential. Then set the DAY TABs to Tue, Wed, Thu & Fri.  Then set the time to the same as your previously set Full schedule (I used 9am), then OK.  Now close your Schedules window.

You've just set up a task which includes a weekly FULL on Monday (or whenever your System's back up) and DIFFERENTIALs on Tue-Fri.  Nothing happens on weekends.  Don't worry about the image types being set to the same time... Hasleo will choose the right image type if your Full is delayed for some reason.  This retention/schedule will, when taking FULL<n+1>, delete FULL<n> and all its dependent DIFFs.  You may now go back to your home page and, using your "Actions" DropDown, create your 1st FULL in this image chain... or you can just wait and that will happen automatically on next Monday.

You may want to enter the "Backup options" LINK to insure you have the DATA compression you want and anything else that it may offer and that you think you need... then SAVE your task.

Feel free to ask any questions if needed...

[Odiez]

(see below: editing errors here)

Hi @Froggie. Thank you for your help on this

This is what I have done now, will test it tomorrow,  I have use Event trigger as I cannot give a time, we have a lot of load shedding for power at the moment

   

[Froggie]

If you have image storage limitations, I would not use "Days" in the retention area, I would use "Backups."  If you use "Days," proper retention will not occur if storage is an issue... you may wind up with multiple DIFFs/FULLS per day due to possible MANUAL imaging using that task.

It also looks like you're only keeping 2-DIFFs rather than the 4 described... that's fine if by design.

What's the TRIGGER you're using?

[Odiez]

That is good, will use Backups and not days, for full backup I use Weekly (Friday) and for Differential , hen I sign into the computer

[Odiez]

@Froggie

I have tested it and it work now 100% to make full backup one a week (keeping only 1 backup), then differentials for the rest of the week.

[Froggie]

Great news!  Enjoy...